Paul Colt's Blog, page 20
January 29, 2022
Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan is another of those black hat faces we instantly recognize for villainy. His filmography includes thirteen westerns, most with so little substance as to have left much of a record beyond a theater lobby poster. The other thing about villains is they don’t come in for much in the way of critical acclaim or professional recognition. How do you profile that actor? About all you have to work with are the more significant roles to the extent you can identify them. With that in mind, we come to Robert Ryan.
Ryan starred in the 1953 film Naked Spur directed by Anthony Mann. Ryan played fugitive Ben Vandergroat, wanted dead or alive, for murder. The five-thousand-dollar bounty on his head attracts bounty hunter Howard Kemp (Jimmy Stewart) to his trail. While pursuing Vandergroat, Kemp collects two would-be deputies, Jesse Tate and Roy Anderson, who think he is lawman. They capture Vandergroat to find he is traveling with romantic interest, Lina Patch (Janet Leigh). This is where Ryan’s role becomes interesting. Vandergroat exposes Kemp for a bounty hunter, after him for the reward. Tate and Anderson want in for a share. Vandergroat then begins to pit his captors against one another using mind games reminiscent of Glen Ford’s Ben Wade in the original 3:10 to Yuma, a film made four years after Naked Spur. Further to Vandergroat’s manipulation of his captor’s greed, a love triangle develops between Lina, Kemp and the killer. The twists and turns end in gunplay with Kemp and Lina riding off to new life.
Another significant Ryan role casts him as Ike Clanton in John Sturges’ Hour of the Gun. The film revisits the gunfight at the OK corral along with the events of Wyatt Earp’s vendetta ride. The film starred James Garner as Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards as Doc Holiday. The film claimed historically accurate depiction of the events as they happened. The claim held ‘somewhat true by Hollywood standards’, which means historians had ample opportunity to point out a fudge here and a smudge there.
Ryan joined an all-star cast for Lawman in 1971. Ryan starred as Sheriff Cotton Ryan in a small town of Sabbath run by prominent rancher Vincent Bronson (Lee J. Cobb). Neighboring Bannock Sheriff Jared Maddox (Burt Lancaster) rides into Sabbath with arrest warrants for five Bronson cowboys wanted for murder. The five, led by Vernon Adams (Robert Duvall) refuse arrest. Tense negotiations follow between Bronson and the two lawmen, all ending in a hail of bullets.
Next Week: L. Q. Jones
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Paul
Ryan starred in the 1953 film Naked Spur directed by Anthony Mann. Ryan played fugitive Ben Vandergroat, wanted dead or alive, for murder. The five-thousand-dollar bounty on his head attracts bounty hunter Howard Kemp (Jimmy Stewart) to his trail. While pursuing Vandergroat, Kemp collects two would-be deputies, Jesse Tate and Roy Anderson, who think he is lawman. They capture Vandergroat to find he is traveling with romantic interest, Lina Patch (Janet Leigh). This is where Ryan’s role becomes interesting. Vandergroat exposes Kemp for a bounty hunter, after him for the reward. Tate and Anderson want in for a share. Vandergroat then begins to pit his captors against one another using mind games reminiscent of Glen Ford’s Ben Wade in the original 3:10 to Yuma, a film made four years after Naked Spur. Further to Vandergroat’s manipulation of his captor’s greed, a love triangle develops between Lina, Kemp and the killer. The twists and turns end in gunplay with Kemp and Lina riding off to new life.
Another significant Ryan role casts him as Ike Clanton in John Sturges’ Hour of the Gun. The film revisits the gunfight at the OK corral along with the events of Wyatt Earp’s vendetta ride. The film starred James Garner as Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards as Doc Holiday. The film claimed historically accurate depiction of the events as they happened. The claim held ‘somewhat true by Hollywood standards’, which means historians had ample opportunity to point out a fudge here and a smudge there.
Ryan joined an all-star cast for Lawman in 1971. Ryan starred as Sheriff Cotton Ryan in a small town of Sabbath run by prominent rancher Vincent Bronson (Lee J. Cobb). Neighboring Bannock Sheriff Jared Maddox (Burt Lancaster) rides into Sabbath with arrest warrants for five Bronson cowboys wanted for murder. The five, led by Vernon Adams (Robert Duvall) refuse arrest. Tense negotiations follow between Bronson and the two lawmen, all ending in a hail of bullets.
Next Week: L. Q. Jones
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Ride easy,
Paul
January 22, 2022
Warren Oates
Warren Oates got his acting start doing guest appearances on TV western series – lots of series. He appeared on Wagon Train, Tombstone Territory, Buckskin, Rawhide, Trackdown, The Rebel, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Virginian, Have Gun Will Travel, Lawman, The Big Valley, Bat Masterson, Gunsmoke and The Rifleman. Oates joked he started out playing the third bad guy and worked his way up to first.
His work on The Rifleman introduced him to Sam Peckinpah, who directed some of the episodes. He did some of his best western film work under Peckinpah’s direction. Two notables are the classic The Wild Bunch and lesser known Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, a low budget film in which Oates took the lead.
The teenage daughter of Mexican crime boss known as El Jeffe turns up pregnant. She identifies the father as El Jeffe under-boss Alfredo Garcia. El Jeffe offers a million-dollar bounty to anyone who brings him the head of Garcia. Two hit men take up the search. They visit a bar Garcia is known to frequent. Bennie (Oates), bar manager and down and out musician plays dumb at first. Bennie visits his girlfriend who knows Garcia. She tells him Garcia died in a car accident.
Bennie tells the hit men he’ll bring them Garcia’s head for ten-thousand dollars. Bennie and his girlfriend head for the grave. Along the way they are attacked by two bikers Bennie kills. Assaulted by grave robbers who kill Bennie’s girlfriend and take the head, leaving him for dead half buried in the grave. Bennie tracks down the grave robbers, killing them and recovering the head. He is next assaulted by members of Garcia’s family. His killing is interrupted when the hit men arrive. They machine gun the family though one of them is killed. The surviving hit man turns on Bennie. Bennie kills him.
After that the film becomes violent. Bennie guns down El Jeffe’s crime syndicate, bodyguards and El Jeffe himself while developing a friendship of sorts with Garcia’s head. The film cratered at the box office and was savaged by critics at the time, though it has gained something of a following in recent years.
In all Warren Oates appeared in eleven western films, including Return of the Seven, The Shooting and Hired Hand.
Next Week: Robert Ryan
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Paul
His work on The Rifleman introduced him to Sam Peckinpah, who directed some of the episodes. He did some of his best western film work under Peckinpah’s direction. Two notables are the classic The Wild Bunch and lesser known Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, a low budget film in which Oates took the lead.
The teenage daughter of Mexican crime boss known as El Jeffe turns up pregnant. She identifies the father as El Jeffe under-boss Alfredo Garcia. El Jeffe offers a million-dollar bounty to anyone who brings him the head of Garcia. Two hit men take up the search. They visit a bar Garcia is known to frequent. Bennie (Oates), bar manager and down and out musician plays dumb at first. Bennie visits his girlfriend who knows Garcia. She tells him Garcia died in a car accident.
Bennie tells the hit men he’ll bring them Garcia’s head for ten-thousand dollars. Bennie and his girlfriend head for the grave. Along the way they are attacked by two bikers Bennie kills. Assaulted by grave robbers who kill Bennie’s girlfriend and take the head, leaving him for dead half buried in the grave. Bennie tracks down the grave robbers, killing them and recovering the head. He is next assaulted by members of Garcia’s family. His killing is interrupted when the hit men arrive. They machine gun the family though one of them is killed. The surviving hit man turns on Bennie. Bennie kills him.
After that the film becomes violent. Bennie guns down El Jeffe’s crime syndicate, bodyguards and El Jeffe himself while developing a friendship of sorts with Garcia’s head. The film cratered at the box office and was savaged by critics at the time, though it has gained something of a following in recent years.
In all Warren Oates appeared in eleven western films, including Return of the Seven, The Shooting and Hired Hand.
Next Week: Robert Ryan
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Ride easy,
Paul
January 15, 2022
Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson was born into ranching on an Osage Reservation in Oklahoma. An excellent horseman, he got his start in film wrangling and doing stunt work. He appeared uncredited in fifteen western films doing double and stunt work. In some ways acting was sort of a sideline. He maintained his ranching interest in breeding horses throughout his career. At one point he took a year off, joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, winning a World Champion buckle in Team Roping. He considered it his finest achievement. So much for Oscar.
His film career got going when John Ford noticed him on location for the filming of Fort Apache. The team drawing a wagon with three men in it, ran away. Ben, who happened to be mounted, rode to the rescue, saving the day in real life. Ford rewarded him with an acting contract.
Johnson appeared with John Wayne in Ford films She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande. Other notable roles came in One-Eyed Jacks with Marlon Brando, Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood, The Wild Bunch with William Holden, The Undefeated and Chisum with John Wayne and Junior Bonner with Steve McQueen. Johnson’s western filmography includes thirty feature films among them four done with the legendary Sam Peckinpah, who valued Johnson for his authenticity. Tall, plain-spoken man of few words, Ben Johnson was the genuine article.
Johnson won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor along with a Golden Globe for his role in The Last Picture Show. Johnson initially declined the role because it required “Too much talkin’.”
Johnson credited his success to doing the things he knew how to do. He stayed close to his ranching roots, breeding, raising, and working with horses. That said he knew something about real estate where he is said to have amassed a fortune estimated at $100 million.
Next Week: Warren Oates
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Paul
His film career got going when John Ford noticed him on location for the filming of Fort Apache. The team drawing a wagon with three men in it, ran away. Ben, who happened to be mounted, rode to the rescue, saving the day in real life. Ford rewarded him with an acting contract.
Johnson appeared with John Wayne in Ford films She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande. Other notable roles came in One-Eyed Jacks with Marlon Brando, Hang ‘Em High with Clint Eastwood, The Wild Bunch with William Holden, The Undefeated and Chisum with John Wayne and Junior Bonner with Steve McQueen. Johnson’s western filmography includes thirty feature films among them four done with the legendary Sam Peckinpah, who valued Johnson for his authenticity. Tall, plain-spoken man of few words, Ben Johnson was the genuine article.
Johnson won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor along with a Golden Globe for his role in The Last Picture Show. Johnson initially declined the role because it required “Too much talkin’.”
Johnson credited his success to doing the things he knew how to do. He stayed close to his ranching roots, breeding, raising, and working with horses. That said he knew something about real estate where he is said to have amassed a fortune estimated at $100 million.
Next Week: Warren Oates
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Ride easy,
Paul
January 8, 2022
Emile Meyer
One thing we learned from this series on villains, when it comes to western films, a great many were made of little note nor long remembered. They were made alright. Lots of them. Each of them producing one or more villains of little note to not remember. So, it is with Emile Meyer. He made fifteen western films in roles so non-descript they defy description here. We include him because he is another memorable face of villainy and he played at least one memorable western villain.
Emile Meyer’s most significant role as a western villain is that of ruthless cattle baron, Rufus Ryker in the classic western Shane. Ryker wages war against homesteaders and small ranchers in pursuit of his claim on open range. He employs hired guns and ruffians to do his dirty work for him. Drifter gunman, Shane (Alan Ladd), is hired as a ranch hand by local rancher Joe Starrett who finds himself in Ryker’s sights.
Shane and Starrett have threatening encounters with Ryker’s men, culminating in a saloon brawl where Shane and Starrett get the best of Ryker’s men. Ryker vows revenge. He hires notorious gunfighter Jack Wilson (Jack Palance) to take care of the upstart rancher.
Wilson guns down another rancher, leading some of the ranchers and homesteaders to thoughts of pulling up stakes and moving on. Their resolve stiffens when Ryker’s men set fire to a building in town. Ryker sees Starrett as a leader of the upstarts and an important obstacle standing in his way. He invites Starrett to a meeting to ‘negotiate a settlement’ of the dispute, intending to have Wilson kill him. Shane is tipped off as to Ryker’s intent. He and Starrett argue over who will go to town to face Wilson. Unable to talk Starrett out of setting his wife and son up for fatherless widowhood, Shane knocks him out and heads to town.
Shane gets to town to face Wilson, backed by Ryker and his brother. In the shoot-out climax Shane kills Wilson and both Ryker brothers.
Beside his film credits Emile Meyer did western guest appearances on TV’s The Restless Gun and Maverick. So, is Emile Meyer a western villain? If your bossin’ the likes of Jack Palance, you’d have to say.
Next Week: Ben Johnson
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Ride easy,
Paul
Emile Meyer’s most significant role as a western villain is that of ruthless cattle baron, Rufus Ryker in the classic western Shane. Ryker wages war against homesteaders and small ranchers in pursuit of his claim on open range. He employs hired guns and ruffians to do his dirty work for him. Drifter gunman, Shane (Alan Ladd), is hired as a ranch hand by local rancher Joe Starrett who finds himself in Ryker’s sights.
Shane and Starrett have threatening encounters with Ryker’s men, culminating in a saloon brawl where Shane and Starrett get the best of Ryker’s men. Ryker vows revenge. He hires notorious gunfighter Jack Wilson (Jack Palance) to take care of the upstart rancher.
Wilson guns down another rancher, leading some of the ranchers and homesteaders to thoughts of pulling up stakes and moving on. Their resolve stiffens when Ryker’s men set fire to a building in town. Ryker sees Starrett as a leader of the upstarts and an important obstacle standing in his way. He invites Starrett to a meeting to ‘negotiate a settlement’ of the dispute, intending to have Wilson kill him. Shane is tipped off as to Ryker’s intent. He and Starrett argue over who will go to town to face Wilson. Unable to talk Starrett out of setting his wife and son up for fatherless widowhood, Shane knocks him out and heads to town.
Shane gets to town to face Wilson, backed by Ryker and his brother. In the shoot-out climax Shane kills Wilson and both Ryker brothers.
Beside his film credits Emile Meyer did western guest appearances on TV’s The Restless Gun and Maverick. So, is Emile Meyer a western villain? If your bossin’ the likes of Jack Palance, you’d have to say.
Next Week: Ben Johnson
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Paul
January 1, 2022
Neville Brand
Neville Brand had a face for villainy. All you had to do is see his character to know which side of good and bad he was on. He took his talent to plenty of westerns, sixteen films including John Wayne’s Cahill U.S. Marshal. Most of his western films were low budget oaters with little box office, critical acclaim, or historical significance to distinguish them. He made guest appearances in eight TV western series and was awarded the starring role in the Laredo series.
Most of the western villains Brand played were those of a gang member or some other minor bad guy serving as a foil for the hero to overcome. We couldn’t find much in his body of work to characterize in this post. We have had similar experience with others listed as western villains. Take John Russell for example. Certainly, acted in a good many western roles, we just couldn’t find much in the way of villain roles. He doesn’t appear in this series for that reason.
So now we come to Neville Brand. Not much to say past he had the face and voice for a black hat. He wore it well. The roles he played were ‘generic’ bad guys. Plug and play. He could be the western villain poster. We simply could not leave him out of this series.
Next Week: George Maharis
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Paul
Most of the western villains Brand played were those of a gang member or some other minor bad guy serving as a foil for the hero to overcome. We couldn’t find much in his body of work to characterize in this post. We have had similar experience with others listed as western villains. Take John Russell for example. Certainly, acted in a good many western roles, we just couldn’t find much in the way of villain roles. He doesn’t appear in this series for that reason.
So now we come to Neville Brand. Not much to say past he had the face and voice for a black hat. He wore it well. The roles he played were ‘generic’ bad guys. Plug and play. He could be the western villain poster. We simply could not leave him out of this series.
Next Week: George Maharis
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Ride easy,
Paul
December 25, 2021
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman has an impressive acting resume we profiled in our western stars of the big screen series. In this post we focus on three classic western roles all with a touch of villainy.
In Unforgiven Hackman plays Big Whiskey, Wyoming Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett. Daggett angers local prostitutes when he orders two cowboys to turnover horses to the prostitute’s saloon owner employer as compensation for his loss, following disfigurement of one of the girls. The prostitutes put up a one-thousand-dollar reward for anyone killing the cowboys. Gunfighters bent on collecting the bounty hit town, among them Will Munny (Clint Eastwood) and long time friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). “Little Bill” disarms the gunnies one by one, beats them and orders them out of town. Munny manages to kill the cowboys and collect the reward; but not before “Little Bill” beats Logan to death. Munny kills “Little Bill” in a saloon showdown shootout. Unforgiven won an Oscar for best picture, Hackman won for Best Supporting Actor.
Geronimo: An American Legend is a revisionist history aptly titled legend. Loosely based on Geronimo’s surrender it stars Wes Studi in the title role. Hackman played General George Crook with Robert Duval as Chief of Scouts, Al Sieber. Crook respects Geronimo and regrets forced relocation to a reservation. When Geronimo jumps the reservation, Crook resigns from the army rather than pursue him. He is replaced by General Nelson Miles leading to Geronimo’s eventual surrender.
The Quick and the Dead revives Hackman’s “Little Bill” sadistic streak in the role of ruthless outlaw, saloon owner town boss John Herod. Herod stages a fast draw to the death competition that attracts professional guns with known and unknown connections to Herod’s past misdeeds. Among the competitors The Lady (Sharon Stone), Cort (Russell Crowe), a former Herod henchman turned preacher and The Kid, a young gun who enters the competition to win Herod’s respect who he believes to be his father. The tournament progress with gunfight after gunfight, treachery after double cross, death after death and deception until The Lady rises from the dead to kill Herod.
Hackman’s other western work included an appearance in the Kevin Kostner film Wyatt Earp. Hackman plays Wyatt’s father.
Next Week: Neville Brand
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Paul
In Unforgiven Hackman plays Big Whiskey, Wyoming Sheriff “Little Bill” Daggett. Daggett angers local prostitutes when he orders two cowboys to turnover horses to the prostitute’s saloon owner employer as compensation for his loss, following disfigurement of one of the girls. The prostitutes put up a one-thousand-dollar reward for anyone killing the cowboys. Gunfighters bent on collecting the bounty hit town, among them Will Munny (Clint Eastwood) and long time friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman). “Little Bill” disarms the gunnies one by one, beats them and orders them out of town. Munny manages to kill the cowboys and collect the reward; but not before “Little Bill” beats Logan to death. Munny kills “Little Bill” in a saloon showdown shootout. Unforgiven won an Oscar for best picture, Hackman won for Best Supporting Actor.
Geronimo: An American Legend is a revisionist history aptly titled legend. Loosely based on Geronimo’s surrender it stars Wes Studi in the title role. Hackman played General George Crook with Robert Duval as Chief of Scouts, Al Sieber. Crook respects Geronimo and regrets forced relocation to a reservation. When Geronimo jumps the reservation, Crook resigns from the army rather than pursue him. He is replaced by General Nelson Miles leading to Geronimo’s eventual surrender.
The Quick and the Dead revives Hackman’s “Little Bill” sadistic streak in the role of ruthless outlaw, saloon owner town boss John Herod. Herod stages a fast draw to the death competition that attracts professional guns with known and unknown connections to Herod’s past misdeeds. Among the competitors The Lady (Sharon Stone), Cort (Russell Crowe), a former Herod henchman turned preacher and The Kid, a young gun who enters the competition to win Herod’s respect who he believes to be his father. The tournament progress with gunfight after gunfight, treachery after double cross, death after death and deception until The Lady rises from the dead to kill Herod.
Hackman’s other western work included an appearance in the Kevin Kostner film Wyatt Earp. Hackman plays Wyatt’s father.
Next Week: Neville Brand
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Paul
December 18, 2021
Eli Wallach
When it comes to Eli Wallach’s western villain filmography, the story is about the quality of his body of work. Hailed as one of the greatest character actors of all time, Eli Wallach brought evil to villains in three classic western films. We highlight those roles with this post. His fourth western, Aces High, was a follow-on Spaghetti Western to the classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
The Magnificent Seven featured one of the great casts in classic western film. Eli Wallach played the cruel Mexican bandit leader, Calvera, who along with his gang terrorize a small Mexican Village. The seven are hired to rid the towns people of Calvera and his gang. At the film’s turning point Calvera captures the seven. He releases them reasoning they now understand the peons aren’t worth dying for. We know what happened. Calvera is remembered for his dying question to Chris (Yul Brenner), “You came back… to a place like this? Why? A man like you, Why?”
Wallach appeared in classic How the West Was Won as outlaw Charlie Grant. It was a minor part, pitting him against a marshal who killed his brother. Grant dies in a shootout and spectacular train robbery wreck. Wallach’s performance won him his important next role.
Sergio Leone wanted a comedic element for Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Something like an evil Jingles Jones. Wallach got the part opposite Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. It nearly killed him. In one scene, shot lying on a railroad track he was nearly decapitated. Best I can tell, they shot two versions of the ending with Tuco trussed up to hang. The one we saw had Wallach standing on a rock with a noose around his neck. In the scene we didn’t see, Wallach sat a horse, that bolted at a pistol shot, taking the actor on a mile ride runaway with his hands tied behind his back.
Wallach, Eastwood and Leone formed fast friendships over the making of the film. Wallach must have had a sense of humor given his near-death experiences.
Next Week: Gene Hackman
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Paul
The Magnificent Seven featured one of the great casts in classic western film. Eli Wallach played the cruel Mexican bandit leader, Calvera, who along with his gang terrorize a small Mexican Village. The seven are hired to rid the towns people of Calvera and his gang. At the film’s turning point Calvera captures the seven. He releases them reasoning they now understand the peons aren’t worth dying for. We know what happened. Calvera is remembered for his dying question to Chris (Yul Brenner), “You came back… to a place like this? Why? A man like you, Why?”
Wallach appeared in classic How the West Was Won as outlaw Charlie Grant. It was a minor part, pitting him against a marshal who killed his brother. Grant dies in a shootout and spectacular train robbery wreck. Wallach’s performance won him his important next role.
Sergio Leone wanted a comedic element for Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Something like an evil Jingles Jones. Wallach got the part opposite Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef. It nearly killed him. In one scene, shot lying on a railroad track he was nearly decapitated. Best I can tell, they shot two versions of the ending with Tuco trussed up to hang. The one we saw had Wallach standing on a rock with a noose around his neck. In the scene we didn’t see, Wallach sat a horse, that bolted at a pistol shot, taking the actor on a mile ride runaway with his hands tied behind his back.
Wallach, Eastwood and Leone formed fast friendships over the making of the film. Wallach must have had a sense of humor given his near-death experiences.
Next Week: Gene Hackman
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Paul
December 11, 2021
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine’s western filmography does not constitute a substantial share in his total body of work, though it contributed significantly to establishing his early career. He appeared in Johnny Guitar as bad guy Bart Lonergan. He played cutthroat outlaw Donnegan in the Mexican revolution film Vera Cruz.
Borgnine owes an important chapter in his personal life to the Delmer Daves western film Bad Landers. In the film Borgnine plays ex-convict killer, John McBain opposite Alan Ladd. Anita, McBain’s love interest played by Katy Jurado, blossomed into Borgnine’s first wife until her death.
Borgnine’s most important western role appeared in Sam Peckinpah’s classic film, The Wild Bunch as Dutch. Other western films credited to Borgnine’s early career include Jubal, Chuka, The Trackers, The Revengers and Spaghetti western A Bullet for Sandoval with Ernie in title role of Don Pedro Sandoval.
Ernest Borgnine might be best remembered for his title role in the TV comedy series McHale’s Navy with Tim Conway. Apart from the series, Borgnine made guest appearances in TV western episodes including Frontier Justice, Laramie, Little House on the Praire, Walker Texas Ranger and Wagon Train.
Ernest Borgnine is remembered with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His contributions to western entertainment are remembered in the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Next Week: Eli Wallach
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Borgnine owes an important chapter in his personal life to the Delmer Daves western film Bad Landers. In the film Borgnine plays ex-convict killer, John McBain opposite Alan Ladd. Anita, McBain’s love interest played by Katy Jurado, blossomed into Borgnine’s first wife until her death.
Borgnine’s most important western role appeared in Sam Peckinpah’s classic film, The Wild Bunch as Dutch. Other western films credited to Borgnine’s early career include Jubal, Chuka, The Trackers, The Revengers and Spaghetti western A Bullet for Sandoval with Ernie in title role of Don Pedro Sandoval.
Ernest Borgnine might be best remembered for his title role in the TV comedy series McHale’s Navy with Tim Conway. Apart from the series, Borgnine made guest appearances in TV western episodes including Frontier Justice, Laramie, Little House on the Praire, Walker Texas Ranger and Wagon Train.
Ernest Borgnine is remembered with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His contributions to western entertainment are remembered in the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Next Week: Eli Wallach
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Paul
December 4, 2021
Jack Palance
Jack Palance was born to Ukrainian immigrant parents and a name no one could pronounce. He grew up in Pennsylvania coal country where he followed his father into mine work before taking up a short-lived professional boxing career. He attended the University of North Carolina for two years on a football scholarship before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII.
Palance began his acting career on Broadway before finding his way to film. His first western credit earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as gunfighter Jack Wilson in Shane, opposite Alan Ladd. He played Toriano, the son of an Apache chief in Arrowhead and later Mexican revolutionary kidnapper, Jesus Raza in The Professionals. Other western credits include The Lonely Man, The Desperados, The McMasters, Companeros, Monty Walsh, Chato’s Land, Sting of the West, Brothers Blue, Oklahoma Crude, and God’s Gun, opposite Lee Van Cleef.
In two of his better-known western roles Palance appeared as Lawrence Murphy, head of The House, in the Young Guns interpretation of the Lincoln County War. The film featured Emilio Estevez in the best-ever portrayal of Billy the Kid along with a star-studded supporting cast.
Palance reached the pinnacle of his western filmography in the role of Curly Washburn in City Slickers with Billy Crystal. Jack received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. As it happened, the award show was emceed by Billy Crystal. In accepting the Oscar, the 6’4” Palance borrowed a line from the film for his 5’7” co-star, “Billy Crystal, I crap bigger than you.” Crystal, never one to miss an opportunity, launched one-liner after one-liner at Jack’s expense throughout the remainder of the show.
Jack Palance passed away in November 2006. He was 87. He is remembered with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Next Week: Ernest Borgnine
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Palance began his acting career on Broadway before finding his way to film. His first western credit earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor as gunfighter Jack Wilson in Shane, opposite Alan Ladd. He played Toriano, the son of an Apache chief in Arrowhead and later Mexican revolutionary kidnapper, Jesus Raza in The Professionals. Other western credits include The Lonely Man, The Desperados, The McMasters, Companeros, Monty Walsh, Chato’s Land, Sting of the West, Brothers Blue, Oklahoma Crude, and God’s Gun, opposite Lee Van Cleef.
In two of his better-known western roles Palance appeared as Lawrence Murphy, head of The House, in the Young Guns interpretation of the Lincoln County War. The film featured Emilio Estevez in the best-ever portrayal of Billy the Kid along with a star-studded supporting cast.
Palance reached the pinnacle of his western filmography in the role of Curly Washburn in City Slickers with Billy Crystal. Jack received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. As it happened, the award show was emceed by Billy Crystal. In accepting the Oscar, the 6’4” Palance borrowed a line from the film for his 5’7” co-star, “Billy Crystal, I crap bigger than you.” Crystal, never one to miss an opportunity, launched one-liner after one-liner at Jack’s expense throughout the remainder of the show.
Jack Palance passed away in November 2006. He was 87. He is remembered with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a place in the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Next Week: Ernest Borgnine
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Paul
November 27, 2021
Henry Silva
Born of Spanish and Sicilian heritage, Henry Silva was raised in New York. He dropped out of school to pursue an acting career. His film career began playing western villains and an occasional Native American role. Early film credits include the outlaw Chink in The Tall T, outlaw murderer Lujan in The Bravados and hot-headed Rennie, gang member to Richard Widmark’s Clint Hollister in The Law and Jake Wade. He appeared as a Native American Mountain Hawk in Sergeants 3, launching an association with Frank Sinatra and his ‘Rat Pack’ pals destined to have a powerful influence on Silva’s career.
Typecast in villain roles, Silva’s western filmography includes, Viva Zapata, Ride a Crooked Trail, The Jayhawkers, The Plainsman, Five Savage Men, and Lust in the Dust. Silva’s film career broke the bad guy typecast and took off in Europe with the Spaghetti Western, The Hills Run Red. He went on to do some twenty-five European films.
Examination of some of Silva’s more notable films include Rat Pack films, Oceans 11 and The Manchurian Candidate. These films along with Sergeants 3 introduced Silva to Frank Sinatra and his pals, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Dean Martin. While not generally recognized as a member of the pack, Silva definitely ran with the crowd.
Next Week: Jack Palance
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Ride easy,
Paul
Typecast in villain roles, Silva’s western filmography includes, Viva Zapata, Ride a Crooked Trail, The Jayhawkers, The Plainsman, Five Savage Men, and Lust in the Dust. Silva’s film career broke the bad guy typecast and took off in Europe with the Spaghetti Western, The Hills Run Red. He went on to do some twenty-five European films.
Examination of some of Silva’s more notable films include Rat Pack films, Oceans 11 and The Manchurian Candidate. These films along with Sergeants 3 introduced Silva to Frank Sinatra and his pals, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Dean Martin. While not generally recognized as a member of the pack, Silva definitely ran with the crowd.
Next Week: Jack Palance
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
